Doncic Sparks 24–7 Closing Run as Lakers Rally Past Pelicans at Crypto.com Arena
Los Angeles Lakers stormed back to beat the New Orleans Pelicans 110–101, ripping off a 24–7 run over the final eight minutes behind Luka Doncic’s all‑around brilliance and LeBron James’ veteran closing plays. For Sportsphere24, it was the kind of comeback that shows exactly why this star pairing terrifies Western contenders.
Pelicans strike first behind Zion, Ingram and Murphy
New Orleans looked ready to steal one in LA for most of the night. Zion Williamson repeatedly bullied his way to the rim, setting the tone with power drives and finishes through contact that had the Lakers scrambling. Brandon Ingram added tough mid‑range buckets and secondary playmaking, while Trey Murphy III caught fire from deep, burying early threes to match shots from Doncic and LeBron and keep the Pelicans in front.
By midway through the fourth, New Orleans still held a 94–86 lead after trading punches with LA and punishing transition opportunities. Their offense, built around Zion’s rim pressure and Murphy’s spacing, had the Lakers’ defense stretched thin and the Crypto.com Arena crowd nervous. Then the game flipped.
Luka and LeBron flip the switch
From 94–86 down, the Lakers closed on a ruthless 24–7 run. Luka Doncic finished with 27 points, 10 rebounds and 7 assists, dictating everything in the half court with high pick‑and‑rolls and step‑back jumpers. He kicked off the surge by repeatedly targeting mismatches, spraying passes to shooters when the Pelicans sent extra help and punishing single coverage when they didn’t.
LeBron James added 21 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists, turning up the aggression in the lane as the clock wound down. He attacked early in the shot clock, got to the free‑throw line, and forced New Orleans to collapse, opening passing lanes for swing‑swing threes. The two‑man game between Doncic and LeBron—re‑screens, slips, and cross‑court darts—kept the Pelicans’ defense guessing and eventually broke it.
Role players and defense seal the comeback
The stars finished the job, but the supporting cast cracked the door open. Austin Reaves drilled a huge three with 5:04 left to put the Lakers back ahead 96–94, a shot that shifted all the momentum in the building. In the final two minutes, Marcus Smart and Doncic each buried clutch threes to stretch the lead, turning a tight game into a controlled finish.
On the other end, LA’s defense finally corralled Zion and took away New Orleans’ easy looks. Anthony Davis anchored the paint and glass, while Smart, Reaves and the wings ramped up on‑ball pressure to force the Pelicans into late‑clock isolations and contested jumpers. Over those closing eight minutes, New Orleans managed just seven points as the Lakers’ physicality and rotations suffocated them.
Standings impact for both teams
The win improved Los Angeles to 37–24 and extended their streak to three, strengthening their grip in the middle of the Western playoff pack. With all five starters in double figures and the Doncic‑LeBron partnership clearly growing more comfortable, the Lakers continue to look more like a dangerous playoff version of themselves than an experiment. For Sportsphere24, this performance adds to the narrative of LA as a team that can summon a high gear on demand when the game tightens.
New Orleans, meanwhile, left Crypto.com Arena with another “almost” against a contender. Strong nights from Zion, Ingram and Murphy were undermined by late‑game stagnation and defensive breakdowns once LA raised its intensity. If the Pelicans want to avoid the play‑in and make noise in the postseason, learning how to close out games like this on the road will be the next crucial step.